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    John Holly's Asian Bistro

    3.3 (324 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order John Holly's Asian Bistro Takeout or Delivery

    John Holly's Asian Bistro Photos

    JOHN HOLLY'S ASIAN BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Crab Rangoon, Crispy Spring Roll with Pork(2), sake flight
    Katie R.

    Wasn't too busy but great food. Definitely going back to try more. Lots of menu items. Bar area with TV and sports if that interests you.

    There was a cockroach on the sushi roll. So disgusting. Praying my family doesn't get sick.

    They gave a complimentary dessert!
    Mallory S.

    Another great experience at John holly! Sake bombs, great veg sushi, apps and good atmosphere. The bartender was really nice and the server we recognize is an angel too. Gave us a free dessert too!

    Tempura, fried rice, sushi
    Sydney E.

    I've been going to John Holly's for about 10 years. The food has always been fantastic and the menu offers several different types of cuisine. I've ordered everything from Sushi to Pad Thai. My whole family went for Christmas last year, as it was one of the few places open when I got off work. My mother and I both ordered tempura and the portion was incredibly generous. I'm usually able to finish my whole plate, as it's a lighter dish, and ended up taking half home. My Husband ordered Katsu with fried rice. All of our dinners came out and only his fried rice. They were very busy with the holiday so it was understandable, but there was no communication. His katsu came by the end of the meal, but he was so satisfied with the fried rice, it did not ruin our experience.

    Pineapple Boat
    Emma J.

    I was very hesitant about this place particularly because of the many mixed reviews and the more recent ones being pretty negative. However, this place was recommended by a local family friend who has been going for years and thus we decided to give it a shot. We went on a Friday night around 7pm and it was pretty empty which was another concern, however, we still went for it. As we were there, more people showed up and quite a few got take out, but it was nowhere near as crazy as the Denver Beer Company across the street. We ordered the fate cocktail and a Sapporo beer. The fate drink was very sweet and pineapple-y and while it did not taste like there was much alcohol, I was feeling it pretty quickly so there must have been more than I thought/tasted. We started with a large wonton soup and the gyoza. I usually dislike heavy vegetable wonton soups, but I actually liked the many vegetables in this one, the wontons were actually my least favorite part of it. They were not bad, I just prefer ones that are more triangular and smooth than the bumpy rolled up ones. The large was also quite large, we only shared between two people but that in itself probably could have been the meal, we should have simply saved some for leftovers. The gyoza was really good, we both enjoyed that a lot. We then split the chicken basil friend rice and a shrimp tempura roll. To me, the basil fried rice was overly basil flavored as that was pretty much all I could taste, so I would not order that again, and if we were to get fried rice would get normal fried rice. The shrimp tempura was good! My only complaint with the sushi was that the pieces were really large so it was quite a mouthful. I would have preferred each one been split in two for a total of 10 pieces instead of 5 but the same amount of stuff. Lastly, we were served a pineapple boat for dessert which was very tasty and a nice way to end the meal. All in all, the food was good and it was very well priced. We sat outside, so I can't really comment on the indoor atmosphere, but the outdoor deck was nice especially for a summer evening. Service was also quick and pleasant.

    Poison Ivy roll!
    Megan M.

    My aunt and I came here for lunch together--it wasn't super busy right at noon, so we were seated and served very quickly. The prices are a little steeper than what I normally go for, but the servings are MASSIVE. The miso soup was delicious. The shrimp and veggie tempura plate was so full...we were full before the rest of our food even got there, and it looked like we hadn't even touched the plate yet. The curry was good--a little heat, but flavorful. The poison ivy roll was also so good...even for dinner later that night. Service was attentive and so helpful!

    Delicious selection of sushi rolls.
    T D.

    If you are looking for top-notch Chinese, Japanese and Thai food, John Holly's Asian Bistro on South Downing should be your go to! I've been coming here for years and followed them from their outpost off of Olde South Gaylord Street in Denver. Today we were waited on by Yeelang who was not only helpful in ensuring we had everything we needed but made good eye contact and was very friendly while answering our questions and taking our order. As we dined, lovely jazz music played in the background. The food was brought out promptly with the appetizer served first and then the entrees. Today we enjoyed super fresh sushi rolls. Delicious with perfectly cooked rice and delicately sliced fish. The appetizer was Japanese gyoza. They were cooked to perfection with a flavorful filling and sauce. The Singapore noodles were spiced perfectly with the best combination of vegetables and protein. The food is cooked and made to order using the best and freshest ingredients. If you have a chance to try the food in person, you should. If not, they have delivery available too! Great for those nights in or for date night and a movie at home. Or for a family dinner for the holidays. I am glad that the owner (who often is there) has such an amazing place and food for many to enjoy! I can't imagine going anywhere else! Thank you John Holly's for always ensuring each customer has a great experience while eating the amazing food of your restaurant. We will be back! Happy to support this Asian owned business.

    We always enjoy John Holly.  The sushi is consistently great! This is a small place but not too busy.  Easy walk for the DU and Platt Park.
    Carrie G.

    Im updating my review for COVID. Love that every time we call in they remember us, remember what we like, and remember that I like a side of sesame oil. love this John Holly because it's so close to our house. It's often not as busy as you'd think and we always get a table. The one down south, under different ownership, is always packed on a Friday or Saturday nights. Love of my life Husband and I enjoy the quietness here. The food is just as delicious as down south and presentation is usually wonderful. Why only four stars tonight? They don't have my favorite jasmine tea. Apparently me and one other person were the only ones to order it. Everybody please come in and ask that they get herbal jasmine tea back!

    Green Curry

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    2 months ago

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    7 months ago

    Always enjoy coming here - good food, good service and reasonably priced. I like that they offer kitchen items as well as sushi.

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    8 months ago

    The steamed chicken is fantastic. Im stunned the reviews aren't great. I order probably twice a month! Definitely recommend!

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    10 months ago

    Great Chinese food! Always quick when I order take out . Very professional management & staff . Good prices , authentic food!

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    I would give it 0 stars if I could. Extremely forceful and rude. Service was mid. Save your money and go somewhere else.

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    I've only had sushi here, but it is ALL delicious! I've tried their poison Ivey roll, the Grand Canyon roll, and the sashimi.

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    2 years ago

    The food was incredible after a really crappy day. The service was fast and really friendly and portions were great and loved the sake bomb!

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    3 years ago

    The service was great! Amazing food and SO clean! I loved it. I would highly recommend!

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Menu is full of variety and everything I've ever ordered has tasted great. Local gem.

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    3 years ago

    Excellent food, nice ambiance, excellent service, all at a reasonable price. Recommended.

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    Page 1 of 9

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    Sushi Den

    Sushi Den

    4.4
    (2.6k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$

    My friend just moved from Downtown Denver to over near this spot. Being a foodie one of my first…read morequestions is, "so what's good to eat around here?" He immediately suggested Sushi Den off Pearl as the go to spot. We had eaten at Temaki Den several times which is one of my favs when I visit. So I was all in. It did NOT dissapoint. Not only was the sushi top quality, but they had a wild selection of unique fish, and approaches to classic combos. We had some amazing Sake to pair with it. The server was outstanding and met us at our goofy level joking with us just the right amount. It's a beautiful restaurant with modern design and just casual enough where you don't feel like you have to be dressed to the 9's. Pearl street in general is very quaint and homey and walkable. I definitely recommend checking it out!!

    Food - Excellent Service - Superb…read moreAmbiance- noisy when busy 1st time here on 6/21/26 in a great area "pearl Street" Had the garlic calamari, excellent flavor and so different than fried calamari, ''tis WAY better! Sushi dinner for main meal, imho best value! You get: Tuna, Yellowtail, Salmon, White Fish, Scallop, Shrimp, and Octopus nigiri (1 pc. each) - so that's 7 pieces, PLUS..... a choice of Tuna roll (6 pc.) or California roll (5 pc.) 12 or 13 pieces!!! Plus I got miso soup AND a salad! Pricy, but totally worth it for a Father's Day celebration. Gotta get back here when I can! Lastly, they have their own soy sauce, less salty, more flavorful, puts both Kikoman types to shame!

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    Inside
    Inside
    Chocolate cake.
    Chocolate cake.
    Hold steady  @dangit.all

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    Hold steady @dangit.all
    Temaki Den

    Temaki Den

    4.6
    (417 reviews)
    6.6 mi
    $$$$

    To celebrate our anniversary, we decided to come to Temaki Den and it did not disappoint (the hype…read moremakes a lot of sense). We thought we made a mistake choosing sushi bar instead of a table because we'll have back issues. Surprisingly, the chairs had a mini back so you could lean back occasionally. And we think our experience was better because the sushi chefs would explain the origin of the fish and all the ingredients they used into each roll and order. We also got a complimentary piece for sitting at the sushi bar which was a light fried yellow tail which was so good. Service is amazing. They're attentive and check in on you often. It does take some time to get your rolls but give its time to digest. From watching the sushi chefs at the bar, they're very precise in how they make each roll. Every roll has similar proportions from the slight wasabi they use to the amount of rice and fish. Everything that we had was amazing. The hamachi and salmon sashimi felt like butter. It just melts in your mouth. The aged toro was so delicious. Even the edamame was just so good. The unagi nigiri is some of the best I've had in the state (the nigri was better than the handroll and I think it's because I love unagi so I love the ratio in nigiri form). The Spicy Tuna Oshizushi was a surprising favorite of the night along with the Crème Fresh Salmon Belly. I could've done without the wagyu but it was good. Every order does come with only 1 so order based on the amount of people that are with your party. Some items we were unsure of like the wagyu so we ordered 1 and shared a bite. Overall, I understand the hype and the reservations. But it was worth it and I'm surprised we can get high quality fish in a landlock state. Of the high end sushi restaurants in CO, Temaki Den is probably my fave.

    Reservations were booked but I walked in for happy hour right when they opened and they got me in…read more I've been here twice before and I've loved it. This time I got a nigiri flight, which I loved. I'd say some of the best I've had in Denver. I also got the salmon oshizushi, which I really liked as well. It was warm and the jalepeno added a perfect spice. They spaced each course out perfectly so not everything came at once.

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    Temaki Den
    American wagyu and Salmon Oshizushi
    American wagyu and Salmon Oshizushi
    Unagi Handroll

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    Unagi Handroll
    Uchi Denver

    Uchi Denver

    4.5
    (1.1k reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$$$
    Takes reservations
    Fine dining

    Uchi is dangerous for people like me…read more Not because of the raw fish. Because the place understands seduction. I've been eating at Uchi since it opened in Denver and today it still carries that same intoxicating balance of precision, warmth, swagger, and restraint. The room itself glows instead of shouts. Wood slats divide the dining room into little private theaters while the sushi counter hums with focused choreography. Expert hands moving constantly. Rice. Fish. Quiet communication. Tiny acts of discipline repeated hundreds of times a night. I sat down intending to have a civilized happy hour. That plan lasted maybe twelve minutes. The kurodai crudo arrived first. Gooseberry, leche de tigre, candied garlic. Bright, sharp, and alive. This is the kind of starter that wakes up your entire palate and you are reminded that you will absolutely be spending more money than originally intended. Next was the bincho temaki: cool albacore, kimchi, avocado, and a vividly garish orange sauce with some heat to keep the richness from becoming too much. Uchi understands something many restaurants don't: luxuriousness needs balance. Fatty fish without acid, spice, crunch, or brightness is palate exhaustion. And then one after another the deliciousness continued: the oysters were cold and perfect with cucumber, calamansi vinegar, and umeboshi. The day boat scallop nigiri nearly stopped time altogether. Just sweet scallops, rice, citrus, a little finishing salt. Incréable. Or whatever the French word is for "I briefly forgot my own name." And somewhere during martini number one, the staff adopted me. Apparently Uchi keeps notes on guests. Mine, I was told, says I'm "nice and a good eater," which may be the most flattering thing anyone has said to me in months. Suddenly more dishes started appearing. Gifted nigiri. Ikura glowing like little amber jewels (my favorite). A ridiculous and completely delicious carrot toro maki with green chili crunch and enough heat underneath the richness to make the whole thing flirt openly with your mouth. At one point the bartenders literally invented a "walu walu shot" on the fly just because the mood had drifted into improvisational chaos. This was somewhere between oyster shooter, seafood dare, and excellent bad decisions. Meanwhile, the guests next to me started talking to me and the entire energy of the evening shifted into communal sushi-bar joy. Suddenly we were all reacting to dishes, laughing, comparing bites, participating in the same ecosystem of salt, fish, alcohol, and temporary human connection. This is the real thing Uchi sells. Not merely sushi. Attention. Rhythm. Atmosphere. Memory. The feeling of being folded into a beautifully functioning machine dedicated entirely to pleasure. And yes, by the end I was emotional enough to remember being 20 years old eating sushi with an older woman named Alana who wore real fur and introduced me to this whole sensual adult world in the first place. That is what a martini and exceptional nigiri will do to a man. The final bill before tip was somehow only $141, which honestly feels mathematically impossible considering I briefly entered a spiritual relationship with the sushi counter. I tipped $50 because at that point we were basically family. Uchi remains one of the sexiest restaurants in Denver. Not performatively sexy. Not influencer sexy. Actually sexy. Confident. Observant. Generous. Precise. And just dangerous enough to make you order one more thing. Amazing dining experience.

    Uchi was the perfect place for an intimate birthday dinner. The atmosphere is elevated, and the…read moreservice was attentive throughout the entire meal. We had the somakase, and every dish seemed better than the last. The hama chili and walu walu were phenomenal. From the quality of the food to the overall experience, this was easily one of the best meals I've had in Denver. A must try for anyone who appreciates exceptional sushi, great service, and an experience that feels special from beginning to end.

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    Uchi Denver
    Spicy Crunchy Tuna
    Spicy Crunchy Tuna
    Hot sake.

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    Hot sake.
    Rocky Yama Sushi

    Rocky Yama Sushi

    4.7
    (310 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    I usually have a magical ability to select a good restaurant by glancing at the facade, but my…read moreinstinct just wasn't sure about this place and I walked past many times without considering it. That was a big mistake. My friend was in the mood for fish and we also wanted to visit a couple of the galleries on Santa Fe Drive, so we took a chance for an early dinner. We were amply rewarded--the food was terrific, the space was comfortable, and the service was efficient and friendly. There's a small sushi bar at the entrance and a large, covered and enclosed patio to the south of the building (warm weather use only). You can't see the main dining room from the street, but it is tucked in the back of the building. The menu is not huge, but there's a good selection of starters/small plates, an interesting selection of entrées, plus fried rice and ramen options. There are multiple vegetarian choices in every part of the menu. The raw menu includes 26 sushi/sashimi choices, 26 regular rolls, eight vegetable rolls, and ten special rolls. Everything we tried was fresh and delicious. The seaweed salad was particularly good. The Unagi (freshwater eel) was extremely tender and flavorful. We also tried the Dragon Roll and the flavor and texture combination was great. Our other nigiri selections were beautifully sliced and at the peak of perfection. The place was totally packed by 6:00 p.m., but the service continued to be attentive and fast. We had a really great time and the bill was very reasonable. Give this place a try!

    This was a great dinner. I appreciated that there were plenty of vegetarian options (and not just…read morebland cucumber rolls)--having a delicious and large tofu roll, large veggie roll, and fresh avocado roll left me full and happy! The service was friendly, and the atmosphere was lovely with outdoor seating and plenty of space on the table and between each party. So glad we tried this place out!

    Photos
    Rocky Yama Sushi
    Rocky Yama Sushi
    Rocky Yama Sushi

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    Tatsu Izakaya

    Tatsu Izakaya

    4.5
    (392 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    We had a great meal here and our server was very attentive and nice! The decor in this restaurant…read moreis OnePiece themed but it's not super noticeable, as they have a strong izakaya theme throughout the place. The vibe is fast and loud, but the servers are super efficient and communicative. I really liked the tokidoki roll and hamachikama. Hard to go wrong with those! The hamachi kama was HUGE. They give you the entier collar! I also liked the yaki ika which was very tasty, not rubbery at all. They have a lot of ramen on the menu which was a crowd pleaser for our group. Their edamame is also very spicy and quite good -- not your typical simply salted edamame. One thing I wouldn't order - the kimchi fried rice. One person in our party ordered it but it wasn't really fried rice, just kimchi and meat mixed with steamed white rice.

    Yaki Ika and yes, I did it. I have been eyeing on stopping by at this restaurant for awhile…read morewanting to try it. It was good and glad I did. Commonly called ikayaki and checked off! You can try to park at the free parking, off the street or on the street. It was Sunday 3 pm and parking was no problem. Ambiance. Very Japanese like feeling with knick knacks every where with banners, akachõchin. Sushi bar takes one side and also a small bar to the back. Drink menu featured several imported Japanese bottled beers on top of the common ones at reasonable price. Ended up getting the house salad, chicken yakitori, spicy tonkatsu ramen and yaki ika. All tasted good, no complaints. Spicy tonkatsu ramen had rich broth, chatsu was grilled and plenty. Repeat

    Photos
    Tatsu Izakaya
    Luffy roll, Cali roll and I forgot the other one lol
    Luffy roll, Cali roll and I forgot the other one lol
    Tatsu Ramen*

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    Tatsu Ramen*
    Kumoya

    Kumoya

    4.4
    (162 reviews)
    6.6 mi

    Kimora has the makings of a giant izakaya but somehow sectioned things off to make the back rooms…read morefeel more modern. If that doesn't raise expectations the service is on a whole other level with super knowledgeable staff as if they have been there for a while or even own the places. Its impressive! When you tie service and ambiance that leaves the food. Delicate and flavor forward dishes really play to all levels of the meal. Precisely cut pieces of fish and decorated with spices and sauces for an amazing meal! Highly recommended and an easy decision to return. Make your reservation and get that sushi in your belly!

    I've been to Kumoya twice now, once in 2023 and again recently, and I really wanted to love it. The…read morefood is good, the ambiance is great, and the staff is kind when you interact with them. Unfortunately, both visits had the same issue: very long gaps between dishes. On my most recent visit, we waited nearly 50 minutes between courses and never received the remaining three dishes. We ended up asking for the check instead. What made it more frustrating was the lack of service. No one checked on us, and we had to flag down another staff member just to get the check. Our server never came by. It was also surprising because the restaurant wasn't busy. There were open bar seats and plenty of open tables, so I'd be nervous to see what the experience is like on a busy night. It's disappointing because the food is solid, but the pacing and service make it hard to come back.

    Photos
    The cocktail bar
    The cocktail bar
    Wagyu tartare
    Wagyu tartare
    Booth in the main dining room

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    Booth in the main dining room

    John Holly's Asian Bistro - asianfusion - Updated June 2026

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